So, I may have mentioned having had the opportunity to visit Grand Cayman earlier this month as I attended Engage 10, a summit for luxury wedding vendors.  Obviously, with that tag line it had to have  a great schwag bag.  One of the items we received has turned out to be a new staple for me: the Smashbox O-Glow intuitive cheek color (aka, blush)

I find in the sticky summer (or on your beachy honeymoon) I have about goose egg desire to wear heavy make up and have it melt off but I also have no desire to not look adorable.  I think this O-Glow may have completed my summer make up routine and I’m pretty excited to share.

Basically, it’s a clear gel that, through the magic of chemistry, tints your cheeks the color that you would blush naturally.  And it’s true! I somehow have the exact look of having been given a flattering compliment or caught doing something embarrassing. It’s as light as Bene-tint, only without the fear or “overdoing” it and going “clown”.

I personally am pairing this with Chanel’s Eclat Lumiere highlighting face pen in lieu of foundation and some mascara (and some sunscreen).  So far, so good. It’s 88 and humid today and I think it’s working!  Worth a trip to Sephora to check it out as a Honeymoon must have.

When I think of Bed and Breakfasts in New Jersey, I instantly think of Cape May. Nestled between the Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, Cape May is New Jersey’s “queen of seaside resorts” and is renowned for it’s many charming Bed and Breakfast Inns.

Built in 1860, The Southern Mansion is the largest, premier luxury Cape May B&B. The Southern Mansion has it all… rich in history, architecture and with award-winning gardens, it provides the ideal backdrop for a romantic weekend getaway.

The Southern Mansion is also perfectly situated with only a 5-minute walk to the best beaches, shops and restaurants in Cape May’s historic district. I was instantly captivated by the grandiose suites. The King Premier Suite is 700 square feet with 15′ high ceilings. This bi-level suite boasts an artfully decorated downstairs living room, large private bathroom and a large soaking tub – always a crowd pleaser. If antiques are your passion, you will love this B&B…each room is accented with old armoires, classic paintings and has an unmistakable Victorian vibe.

And of course a Bed & Breakfast pre-req… a full gourmet breakfast and afternoon tea (hm, crumpets?). Rates for this beach-side beauty are of course higher in the summer and availability is slim, but if you are looking for gourmet food, luxurious amenities and the utmost privacy, The Southern Mansion is sure to suit your needs (& wants) quite well.

xx

Salome

Yesterday I found myself reminiscing about honeymoon days gone by when I realized I had never let the cat out of the bag. I truly adored the spot we choose and thus decided it was a “must blog”!

Not exactly sure why, but I left the task of researching honeymoon spots solely to my fiancee – though of course, I retained full veto power. Needless to say, he was wonderful! We discussed our likes and dislikes, strong and weak points of our vacations past, must haves, don’t minds and of course budget. I also had to breakdown the whole hurricane season thing to him but that went over pretty smoothly. He pretty much left no stone unturned given our search criteria, and came up with… TC Villas on the Providenciales Island of Turks and Caicos.

Though a few of our friends had visited T&C and shared rave reviews, we were initially hesitant since we wanted something very private and more low key than an all inclusive resort or mass occupancy hotel. We also did not want a bed and breakfast,  so we decided to go the private property route. Best decision ever, we LOVED it! First of all, I am a gal who likes options – and TC Villas has MANY. All the properties are owned by one family and the business is run by Henry Moog and his daughter Shandon. They actually live in Atlanta (love it) but have assembled a stellar team to manage their properties on the island.

There are over 25 free standing villas ranging from cozy and adorable one bedroom cottages to palatial seven bedroom estates. For your HM, you may opt for a 1 or 2 bedroom property, but you would be hard pressed not to make a return visit with friends for a getaway in one of the larger villas. Even though some of the pics you will see below resemble grand 5 star hotels, they are all TC Villas properties – all private & all yours. From the moment we walked through the doors, we literally felt like we were home – just with nicer appliances ;-).

Our villa was extremely clean and well kept. The decor of the many properties vary – some are sleek and modern, while others have a more beachy and rustic vibe,  but all with unmistakable charm and comfort. Most offer private swimming pools and many are just steps away from the absolutely breathtaking turquoise waters of the Caribbean. TC Villas has a great website with awesome pics and is chock full of info on booking, amenities, helpful island hints and nearby restaurants and activities!

Ahh… Calgon, puleez take me away!

xx

Sal

ps – if you are thinking of keeping it a little closer to home, believe it or not there are actually a few really cool places to have a staycation honeymoon in our very own New Jersey. Hang tight, we’ll get to those soon!

I’ve been meaning to post about this since I stayed here over Easter, but for those of you planning Italian honeymoons, I have a find for you!  I love Europe, but I’ve never been a huge fan of European Hotels.  The floral bedspreads and the blah blah bars downstairs never really did much for me.  So, on this last trip, we decided to shake things up a bit and burn our Euros in a different way and stayed at the AMAZING Gallery Hotel Art.

From the moment that we walked in – it’s amazing location steps from Arno and around the corner from the Ponte Vecchio- the service was excellent, and the atmosphere sleek, modern, but still nice and warm.  They truly have a gallery there and it was nice to see some contemporary artwork while surrounded by all the fabulous renaissance works in Florence.  Ultimately, the library itself is the crowning jewel:  a warm and cozy gathering place for cappuccino in the morning, a cocktail with friends before dinner or, in my case, an unintentional nap after a long walk!

In the spirit of Earth Day, I wanted to also mention the fantastic consideration of the environment that this, and all Italian hotels enforce:  10 minutes after you lock the door to your room, the power is shut off.  It’s less problematic than it sounds and conserves an unbelievable amount of power.  Something that made we wonder if we couldn’t do something similar here!

The only downside is that the hotel is designed by Ferragamo and they won’t let you forget it.  The design of the room is amazing, as is each detail. And they want you to know who is responsible.  Upon checking in, checking out, bringing your bags up or whatever, they will remind you that this property is "Designed by Feragamo."  On the plus side, you can buy Ferragamo shirts, ties or shirts directly from the front desk.

We pricelined our room and got a great deal, so keep your eyes open!  Or, bookmark this and wait till the Euro isn’t completely pummeling the $.

Brides and Grooms! My deepest apologies. January, in it’s general shortage of weddings here in NY, is the perfect time for a planner to get away and I did. With all intentions to blog, blog, blog, I found that there is no internet or business center in paradise! (FABULOUS, FRANKLY!) There are also REALLY horrible movies on HBO Latino, but no matter. It was a fabulous holiday with my DH and I made a discovery for all of you To Be Weds out there: Cabo Azul!

My husband and I stayed in Cabo San Lucas for our honeymoon a couple of years ago and had a really great time. Since then, my family in law have all made the cross country trip to Baja California Sur and fallen in love. We were lucky enough to get to stay in a family time share in the FAR MORE ROMANTIC Cabo San Jose. While we were on a beach walk I was absolutely STRUCK by the AMAZING BEAUTY of Cabo Azul Resort.
The architecture is stunning. I insisted on a tour (my husband rolled his eyes, though he had to admit, it was swanky and just my style) The entry from the beach is secluded, private and stunning and they are in the midst of building an indoor outdoor chapel for ceremonies, which is stunning. .
Carved wood pillars are illuminated from the inside to create an artistic glow in the central areas of the resort.
The rooms each feature full eat in kitchens, as well as flat screen televisions, terraces and even some suites with private hot tubs. We befriended some guests visiting from Chicago who mentioned that the SPA is absolutely amazing, and many services INCLUDED in the room rate. The rates online aren’t cheap, but they are running a PRE opening special at 50% off, so check it out.

Cabo San Jose is perfect for honeymooners: Luxurious, secluded and quiet, it’s a strip of resorts and private homes about 25 minutes away from the more party heavy scene in Cabo San Lucas, but all the resorts run shuttles back and forth (and at night) so you can hit up Cabo Wabo with the best of them!